Dan Martella / UGC
La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
By Rebecca Ruiz, Senior editor, msnbc.com
Like other major Spanish cities, Barcelona has many charms -- some of them magical. Antoni Gaud?'s surreal architecture would arguably be atop any list of these attractions.
Born in 1852 in a small town outside of Barcelona, Gaud? is chiefly known for the Sagrada Familia, a church (pictured above) that is structured in the shape of a Latin cross. Work began on the Gothic-revival building in 1882; Gaud? joined the project the following year and continued to work on it until his death in 1926.
The dramatic Nativity facade, dedicated to Jesus' birth, and crypt are among several of Gaud?'s works on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Gaud?'s style, which included undulating lines, pops of color and spatial creativity, "anticipated and influenced many of the forms and techniques that were relevant to the development of modern construction in the 20th century," according to UNESCO.
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Gaud? was also a visionary when it came to urban parks, turning acres of green space into fantastical landscapes. Parc Gu?ll (pictured above) is a popular Barcelona attraction, located in the city's suburbs.
For more information about these and other Gaud? structures in Barcelona, visit the city's tourism website. To see more photos of his work, check out this website.
Have you been to Gaud?'s works? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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Rebecca Ruiz is a senior editor at msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter.
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